Scotland could face a second independence referendum within just three years.
Nicola Sturgeon has announced she will publish a bill for a rerun of the 2014 ballot in the coming days.
And she said she is “determined” to ensure Scotland is ready to hold a vote before the UK quits the EU – which is expected to be in 2019 – if needed.
Opening the SNP conference in Glasgow, the first minister also demanded a raft of new powers – including greater control of immigration- from Theresa May as part of her Brexit negotiations.
The SNP leader railed against the threat of a “hard Brexit” – which includes removal from the single market – claiming it would leave the UK “isolated, inward looking, haemorrhaging jobs, investment and opportunities”.
She said: “The Scottish Government will set out a plan for Scotland. We will seek to make this plan a key element of the UK’s Article 50 negotiation.
“It will require substantial additional powers for the Scottish Parliament. All the powers in our areas of responsibility that currently lie with the EU – and significant new powers too.
“Powers to strike international deals. And greater powers over immigration. Powers not just to protect our economy, but also our values.”
Ms Sturgeon added: “I am determined that Scotland will have the ability to reconsider the question of independence – and to do so before the UK leaves the EU – if that is necessary to protect our country’s interests.
“So I can confirm today that the Independence Referendum Bill will be published for consultation next week.”
A spokeswoman for the first minister said the new powers could relate to the likes of universities’ arrangements with international and EU students, or the relationship with the justice system and the EU’s law enforcement agency Europol, given both education and justice are already devolved.
She also confirmed Scotland could be “sovereign and independent” before the UK has ended its negotiations to leave the EU.
This process will take two years once the prime minister has fired the starting gun, which she has promised to do before the end of March.
The SNP said independence would formally take place 18 months subsequent to a Yes vote in the run up to the 2014 referendum, which would indicate any second ballot would need to take place in the early part of 2017 to ensure EU membership would be continuous.
Sources close to Ms Sturgeon, however, insisted that member states would be prepared to strike a deal to ensure a smooth transition if Scotland was in the process of becoming independent when the UK formally left the Brussels bloc.
Mrs May has said she will have the final say on any Brexit deal but has pledged to listen to devolved administrations as she carries out negotiations.
